Switch for electronic musical instrument



Sept. 4, 1962 A. lORlO 3,052,147

SWITCH FOR ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Au 20, 1959 United States Patent 3,052,147 SWITCH FOR ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Amedeo Iorio, 57-05 155th St., Flushing, N.Y. Filed Aug. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 835,020 Claims. (Cl. 84-171) This invention relates to electrical musical instruments of the type wherein the playing of one instrument causes another instrument to produce the tones normally issued by the first instrument. More particularly, the present invention aims at providing an accordion adapted to actuate synchronously a tone generator to cause the latter to reproduce the musical tones corresponding to the keys and buttons depressed by the accordion. An electric organ tone generator is available on the market as a standard unit, and, by means of electric switches and conductors connected to such a tone geenrator from the accordion, the playing of the accordion will result in the emission of organ tones by the tone generator in synchronism with the accordion. By means of a standard shift on the accordion, the bellows thereof may be cut in or out so that the tones may be emitted by the tone generator alone or by both the latter and the accordion.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of new and improved circuit-closing means for the purpose mentioned above, whereby the construction of the accordion including the switches is substantially simplified while at the same time making the action of the accordion more positive, more effective and more durable. Since the principle of construction and operation of the present switches is the same for both keys and buttons, only the former are illustrated herein.

A further object of the invention is the provision of improved means for closing the circuits between the actuating members or levers, i.e., the keys or the buttons, of an accordion, whereby the switches are directly and positively closed by the actuating levers themselves through an intermediary member or plate continuously urged into loose contact with the lever.

The above broad as well as additional objects will be clarified in the following description wherein reference numerals refer to like-numbered parts in the accompanying drawing. It is to be noted that the drawing is intended primarily for the purpose of illustration and that it is therefore neither desired nor intended to limit the invention necessarily to any or all of the exact details shown or described except insofar as they may be deemed essential to the invention.

In the drawing: FIG. 1 is a view looking at the back of the keyboard of an electric accordion embodying the present improvements, with the back cover broken away, as seen on line 1-1 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlargement of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 rotated through 180 degrees into upside-down position;

7 FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

As shown in detail to the drawing, the numeral 10 indicates the base of the treble section of an accordion, having the frame 11 of the treble section extending there from at an angle. One of the keys of the treble section is indicated at 12 and is, together with the other keys, not shown, pivoted on. a longitudinal rod or axis 13. Each key is normally urged forward to its normally inoperative position by a leaf spring 14, the free end of Patented Sept. 4, 1962 ICC 2 the spring slidably engaging a rigid guide 15 on the back of the key.

A longitudinal strip 16 is secured to a longitudinal panel 17 rigid with the frame, the strip 16 being positioned behind and spaced from the upper portion of the key. Along its lower (FIG. 2) edge, a plurality of equidistant but closely adjacent notches 18 are cut into the said lower edge of the strip. A longitudinal thin closure strip 19 is secured against the said edge of the strip 16, as, for example, by gluing or otherwise, thus forming the notches 18 into rectangular passages.

A transverse, preferably rounded, groove 20 is cut into the back of each key and is positioned with its center line in the plane of one of the passages 18. In each passage 18 a slide 21, rectangular in cross-section and complementary to the passage, is slidably mounted in the passage, with its top edge rounded and registering in the adjacent groove 20 of the key. The slide 21 has a thickness smaller than the width of the groove 20 and its rounded upper edge 22 has, preferably, a smaller degree of curvature than that of the groove. Secured at its rear end to the back of the panel 17, as by a contact screw or rivet 23, is a spring wire 24, maintained in substantially parallel relationship with the panel 17 by a spacer strip 25 and a spacer sleeve or washer 26 on the screw. Actually, two additional spring wires 24a are mounted in the same plane as the wire 24 parallel with the panel 17, as in most cases each key closes three switches upon actuation of the key. Each slide 21 therefore has three holes 27 therethrough, arranged in a row parallel with the lower edge 28 of the slide, and through these holes the spring wires .24, 24a, 24a pass. Thusthe force of the spring wires in passing through these holes maintains the slide 21 in the raised position, FIG. 3, with its upper edge 22 registering in the groove 20 at the back of the key. It is now apparent that, upon depressing the key 12, the slide 21 is moved downward and carries the free ends of the wires with it.

Spaced downward (FIG. 2) from the panel 17, a second panel 29 is secured to the frame 11 in the same plane as the panel 17. On the side of its upper (FIG. 2) edge facing the key 12, this panel has a longitudinal strip 30 secured thereto, and relatively thin plate 31 extends at right angles to the panel 29 and covers the upper edges of both this panel and the strip 30, and, further, projects beyond the panel 29 to provide an overhang 32; the strip 31 is secured to the strip 30 and the panel 29, as, for example, by gluing.

Behind each key 12 a spacer 33 is mounted against the back of the panel 29 in alignment with the spacer 25, and a spring wire 34, similar to the wire 24, is secured by a screw or rivet 35, through a washer 36, to the back side of the panel 29. Thus, with the aid of the spacer 33, this wire 34 is maintained normally in a position of parallelism with the plane of the panel 29. As in the case of the wire 24, there are also two other wires 34a, and these wires pass through longitudinal slots 37 in the overhang 32 of the plate 31. As shown in FIG.1, the three wires 24, 24a, 24a are nearly in alignment, except for the different planes in which they lie, with the three wires 34, 34a, 34a; the plane of the former is slightly closer to the plane of the panels 17 and 29 than the plane of the latter. The extremities of one such row of wires, for example, the row 34, 34a, 34a, are deformed as at 38, so that when, for example, the wire 24 is bent rearward by depressing the key its extremity engages the deformed extremity 38 of the wire 34, since the wires overlap, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Each pair of opposed wires such as, for example, the pairs 24 and 34, 24a and 340:, etc. together comprise a normally open switch.

Thus, as a key 12 is depressed, the key forces the slide 21 rearward to move the free ends of the wires 24, 24a, 24a rearward to engage the wires 34, 34a, 34a, respectively, thus closing circuits, not shown, into the appropriate tone-actuating or sounding means of the tone generator, not shown. Upon engagement of the wire 24, for example, with the wire 34, the free end of the latter is free to be bent rearward by virtue of its riding in a slot 37. During depression or" a key, as well as during return of the key to normal position, the rounded extrcmity 22 of the slide 21 freely moves against the wall of the groove with a minimum of friction.

None of the circuits or connections by means of which the closing of a switch, as above described, sounds a tone or note in the tone generator is shown, as such tone generators are available on the market and the necessary connections of the switch elements with the tone generator terminals are readily made.

Wherever insulating material is indicated in the accompanying drawing, a suitable plastic material may be used, but suitable wood, in solid or laminated form, may be substituted wherever desired. In the case of the strip 19, the same may also be made of fiber or a somewhat pliable plastic material or even felt, not shown.

The switch-closing and switch-opening action resulting from the above disclosure is positive, trouble-free, and simple, as well as inexpensive in manufacture.

It is to be noted that the strip 36 on the panel 29 could be considered as integral with the panel in the form of a thickened edge; the same holds true for the strip to on the panel 17.

The invention having thus been described, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In an electronic musical instrument, in combination, a support; first and second mounting means extendin spaced-apart parallel rows across said support; a first substantially planar array of wires extending generally transversely to said rows from said first mounting means to a region intermediate said rows, the wires of said first array being each secured at one extremity tosaid first mounting means while being freely displaceable relatively to said support at the opposite extremity; a second substantially planar array of Wires extending generally transversely to said rows and parallel to said first array from said second mounting means to said intermediate region in overlapping relationship with respective wires of said first array and in general alignment therewith whereby a plurality of wire pairs are formed alongside one another, the wires of said second array being each secured at one extremity to said second mounting means while being freely displaceable relatively to said support at the opposite extremity, the wires of each pair being normally spaced apart in a direction transverse to the planes of said arrays and being engageable with each other upon a transverse displacement of said opposite extremity of one wire toward said opposite extremity of the other wire of the pair; a set of operating members each disposed on said support with freedom of individual displacement in said transverse direction and in operative alignment with said opposite extremity of said one wire of a respective pair for establishing temporary contact between the wires of said respective pair; and circuit means connected to the wires of each pair for actuating a sound generator upon establishment of said temporary contact.

2. In an electronic musical instrument, in combination, a support; first and second mounting means extending in spaced-apart parallel rows across said support; a first substantially planar array of wires extending generally transversely to said rows from said first mounting means to a region intermediate said rows, the wires of said first array being each secured at one extremity to said first mounting means while being freely displaceable relatively to said support at the opposite extremity; a second substantially planar array of wires extending generally transversely to said rows and parallel to said first array from said second mounting means to said intermediate region in overlapping relationship with respective wires of said first array and in general alignment therewith whereby a plurality of Wire pairs are formed alongside one another, the wires of said second array being each secured at one extremity to said second mounting means while being freely displaceable relatively to said support at the opposite extremity, the wires of each pair being normally spaced apart in a direction transverse to the planes of said arrays and being engageable with each other upon a transverse displacement of said opposite extremity of one wire toward said opposite extremity of the other wire of the pair; a set of manually depressible keys each disposed on said support with freedom of individual displacement in said transverse direction and in positive engagement with said opposite extremity of said one wire of a respective pair for establishing temporary contact between the wires of said respective pair; circuit means connected to the wires of each pair for actuating a sound generator upon establishment of said temporary contact; and resilient means including said one wire maintaining each of said keys in a normal position in which said one wire is disengaged from said other wire.

3. In an electronic musical instrument, in combination, a support; first and second mounting means extending in spaced-apart parallel rows across said support; a first substantially planar array of wires extending generally transversely to said rows from said first mounting means to a region intermediate said rows, the wires of said first array being each secured at one extremity to said first mounting means while being freely displaceable relatively to said support at the opposite extremity; a second substantially planar array of wires extending generally transversely to said rows and parallel to said first array of wires extending generally transversely to said rows and parallel to said first array from said second mounting means to said intermediate region in overlapping relationship with respective wires of said first array and in general alignment therewith whereby a plurality of wire pairs are formed alongside one another, said pairs being divided into a plurality of groups, the wires of said second array being each secured at one extremity to said second mounting means while being freely displaceable relatively to said support at the opposite extremity, the wires of each pair being normally spaced apart in a direction transverse to the planes of said arrays and being engageable with each other upon a transverse displacement of said opposite extremity of on Wire toward said opposite extremity of the other wire of the pair; a set of operating members each disposed on said support adjacent a respective group of wire pairs with freedom of individual displacement in said transverse direction and in operative alignment with said opposite extremity of said one wire of each pair of the respective group for establishing temporary contact between the wires of said respective group; and circuit means connected to the wires of each pair for actuating a sound generator upon establishment of said temporary contact.

4. In an electronic musical instrument, in combination, a support; first and second mounting means extending in spaced-apart parallel rows across said support; a first substantially planar array of wires extending generally transversely to said rows from said first mounting means to a region intermediate said rows, the wires of said first array being each secured at one extremity to said first mounting means while being freely displaceable relatively to said support at the opposite extremity; a second substantially planar array of wires extending generally transversely to said rows and parallel to said first array from said second mounting means to said intermediate region in overlapping relationship with respective wires of said first array and in general alignment therewith whereby a plurality of wire pairs are formed alongside one another, the wires of said second array being each secured at one extremity to said second mounting means while being freely displaceable relatively to said support at the opposite extremity, the wires of each pair being normally spaced apart in a direction transverse to the planes or said arrays and being engageable with each other upon a transverse displacement of said opposite extremity of one wire toward said opposite extremity of the other wire of the pair, one of said opposite extremities being bent in the plane of its array across the other of said opposite extremities for contact therewith upon such transverse displacement; a set of operating members each disposed on said support with freedom of individual displacement in said transverse direction and in operative alignment with said opposite extremity of said one wire of a respective pair for establishing temporary contact between the wires of said respective pair; and circuit means connected to the wires of each pair for actuating a sound generator upon establishment of said temporary contact.

5. In an electronic musical instrument, in combination, a support; first and second mounting means extending in spaced-apart parallel rows across said support; a first substantially planar array of Wires extending generally trans-' versally to said rows from said first mounting means to a region intermediate said row, the wires of said first array being each secured at one extremity to said first mounting means while being freely displaceable relatively to said support at the opposite extremity; a second substantially planar array of wires extending generally transversely to said rows and parallel to said first array from said second mounting means to said intermediate region in overlapping relationship with respective wires of said first array and in general alignment therewith whereby a plurality of wire pairs are formed alongside one another,

said pairs being divided into a plurality of groups, the wires of said second array being each secured at one extremity to said second mounting means while being freely displaceable relatively to said support at the opposite extremity, the wires of each pair being normally spaced apart in a direction transverse to the planes of said arrays and being engageable with each other upon a transverse displacement of said opposite extremity of one wire toward said opposite extremity of the other wire of the pair, one of said opposite extremities being bent in the plane of its array across the other of said opposite extremities for contact therewith upon such transverse displacement; a set of manually depressible keys each disposed on said support adjacent a respective group of wire pairs with [freedom of individual displacement in said transverse direction and in positive engagement with said opposite extremity of said one wire of each pair of the respective group for establishing temporary contact between the wires of said respective group; circuit means connected to the wires of each pair for actuating a sound generator upon establishment of said temporary contact; and resilient means including said one wire maintaining each of said keys in a normal position in which said one wire is disengaged from said other wire.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,250,065 Koehl July 22, 1941 2,587,458 Fritts Feb. 26, 1952 2,736,223 Seybold Feb. 28, 1956 2,931,877 Henley Apr. 5, 1960 2,932,232 Minervini Apr. 12, 1960 2,949,803 Leslie Aug. 23, 1960 

